Walkers on Scotland’s west coast may think their eyes are deceiving them if they spot a ghostly figure in the wilds.
But there’s no need to take a little more water in their whisky. The pale figure roaming the Highlands is no apparition, but a rare white stag. Staff from the John Muir Trust spotted the creature at a secret location and snapped pictures of the deer.
The white stag, caught on camera by Fran Lockhart
The white version of a red deer is extremely scarce. Its colouring is not, as many believe, the result of albinism, but a condition called leucism, a genetic quirk which leads to a reduction of pigment in the skin and hair. Unlike albinos, leucistic animals have normally coloured eyes.
They have, for centuries, been associated with mythology and mystery. Celtic tribes viewed white deer as messengers from the other world. Scottish legend has it that King David I was charged by a white stag while hunting. As he grasped the beast’s antlers they turned into a white cross, and he was inspired to build a shrine at the site, Holyrood.
The stag’s location is not being revealed; last October, poachers in the West Country killed the only other recorded white stag in Britain. The discovery of the headless corpse of the animal suggested it had been killed for a trophy.
Fran Lockhart, partnership manager for the John Muir Trust, managed to snap pictures and take video footage of the stag, believed to be about seven years old. She said: “It was amazing to crawl up so close to such a magnificent looking animal. He looked almost ghost-like next to the group of young red stags that he was mixing with.
“I am thrilled to know that there is a white stag roaming free out there in the Scottish Highlands and that I was privileged enough to be able to spend an hour observing him.
“We will be watching this animal with interest, particularly as he will be reaching his full potential in the next couple of years.”
The John Muir Trust, named after the Dunbar-born national park pioneer, owns land on Quinag, Schiehallion, the Red Cuillin on Sky, part of Ben Nevis and in Sandwood Bay. Its aim is to conserve the wild lands of Scotland and is currently engaged in opposing the planned Beauly to Denny power line.
Cathy
14 February 2008I live in Southwestern Ontario, Canada and yesterday on my drive home, a herd of 10 deer crossed the road in front of me. At the end of the herd, was a small white deer with large tan spots on its torso. I thought that I was seeing things. It was smaller than the rest of the herd and was having trouble keeping up. I thought for a moment that it was a Boar goat. I had no idea there was such a thing until I saw it yesterday.
BRIJENDRA SINGH
14 February 2008Great to hear the news and see the 'Ghost Deer" clip. I know the feeling. In Corbett national Park India in 1995 I discovered such a "white deer' on the birthday of my late friend and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The amazing thing was that I discovered the deer on Rajiv's birthday 20.8.95 in the very area he had helped add on (the Sona Nadhi Wildlife Sanctuary) to the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Raju the deer I monitered for 5 years before poachers killed him, He had become my obsession. I am shure Fran feels that way too, Plese keep the locationabsolutely secret. Brijendra Singh. India
BRIJENDRA SINGH
14 February 2008Brijendra Singh is a member of India's National board for wildlife and has been an Honorary warden of the Corbett Tiger Reserve for the last three decades.
Fran Lockhart
14 February 2008Dear Mr Singh, I would very much like if you could contact me at this email address.
BRIJENDRA SINGH
15 February 2008Dear Fran, I would love to know about the wellbeing of your "ghost deer". My deer Raju too, was an unforgetable sight especially on moon-lit nights. It was because of my complete obsession with him that I devoted over five years on patrols in the Sona Nadhi Sanctuary (CTR) in North India. This also gave me time to clear the area of poachers. There are a lot of Tigers and Leopards in this area too. However, Raju was more alert than the rest of his group of over 20 other Cheetal (axis- axis, a cousin of your deer) and survived the natural predators. It was sad that humans if you can call them that, shot him, while I was recuperating from pneumonia at home in 2001.
BRIJENDRA SINGH
15 February 2008Sorry, I did not get your email address.
Fran Lockhart
15 February 2008fran@jmt.org
Brent Christianson
24 July 2009We saw a white staq last week while hiking in Scotland -- the same one, I am guessing -- magnificent!
Sandy H
29 December 2014I saw 1 other night near perth, Scotland went back along road again to get a picture slowed down to about 10 mph, camera was on wrong settings and didnt get the pic, gutted lol but thats the second time iv seen it so may be next time fingers crossed.